Take My Breath Away

"I can't! I want to buy something with the money I earned on my own. There's no point in buying it with the money you or Carlos gave me," Debbie snapped back.

Sitting on the curb of the empty road, Jared raised his head to look at the dark sky and asked, "Where are you going anyway? It's late. And freezing. You're not going home?"

"No, I'm not. I... I'll spend the night in a hotel."

She really hated to watch Carlos and Megan show off their affection in front of her. She wasn't going to go home and be humiliated that way. And the dorm gates were probably closed by now. A hotel was her only option.

At midnight, Carlos got a text message that Debbie's credit card had been just used to secure a hotel room.

'I thought she was in Kasie's house!' he mused. Instantly, he called the hotel manager and asked whether Debbie was alone.

The manager answered honestly, "There are two of them."

After some pause, he added, "A girl and a boy."

Carlos was fuming with rage. So this was how she repaid him after everything he'd done for her!

He wasted no time rushing all the way there, pausing for nothing. Breathlessly, he tore into the hotel lobby. His livid face stopped the manager from saying anything. Holding breath, the scared man carefully led him straight to Debbie's room. He inserted the universal key card and opened the door.

As he peered inside, the manager was stunned at the sight.

It was the cheapest single-bed room in this four-star hotel. Debbie was sound asleep in the bed, while a big guy was curling up, snoring on the sofa. The sofa was so small that his legs hung over the sides.

Carlos kicked him in the leg. Jared woke up instantly. He was having a nice dream and this guy just ruined it. He threw back the quilt and jumped off the sofa, still fully clothed. Annoyed, he shouted, "Fuck! Who the hell— Car— Mr. Huo."

Upon hearing Jared's sharp, angry shouts, Debbie opened her eyes and blinked. She was still sleepy. 'Why is Carlos here?

I'm in the hotel, not the villa! I must be dreaming.'

She closed her eyes again, trying to drift off. Carlos wasn't interested in letting her do this. He walked up to the bedside and demanded in a cold tone, "Get up!"

'What?! I'm not dreaming. He IS here!'

Debbie covered her head with the quilt and murmured, "Wrong person."

Her voice was so hoarse Carlos frowned. Was she ill?

He picked up Debbie and the quilt and walked towards the door.

Jared tried to run off, but the manager blocked his way. He wouldn't let this young man go wit

arlos liked boys, Debbie decided to give the opposite answer to annoy him. She was in a bad mood now and wouldn't pull her punches. She put on a fake smile and said, "I prefer a girl. Girls are more obedient than boys. What's more, if I had a daughter, we could wear the same articles of clothing. It would be cute to go out with mother and daughter in matching outfits."

While she said this, a picture of Debbie and a mini-sized Debbie entered Carlos' head. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea to have a daughter with Debbie, he thought.

"Oh Megan, I nearly forgot. Let me give you a piece of advice. Men are all two-timers. When you find a boyfriend, keep an eye on him so he doesn't cheat on you."

Carlos felt weird when he heard this. 'Is she trying to imply I'm a two-timer?'

he wondered.

Megan nodded and looked at Debbie with a pair of innocent eyes. But what she said next irritated Debbie even more. "Uncle Carlos is a good man. I'll marry a man like him!"

Debbie took several deep breaths to calm herself down and then said in a sarcastic voice, "Really? You don't know him very well. You've been taken in by his looks. He has a weakness for women. So you'd better not marry a man like him."

Megan stopped eating and stared at Debbie in utter disbelief. "I don't think we're talking about the same guy. Uncle treats me well. But other women?"

'That's the problem! He treats you better than his own wife. Can't you see that makes him a bad husband?' Debbie mocked in her mind. "You're wrong. I'm his wife and he should treat me well. He's your uncle, and I can understand he treats you well too. But he has so many other women that he also treats well. Like Miss Mi and Miss—"